Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports (DB1)
Also known as the DB1, the 2-litre sports was
designed by Claude Hill during World War II. 15 examples were produced between
1948 and 1950 under the watch of the company’s then-new owner, David Brown,
creating a mold from which pretty much all Astons since have been cut in some
way.
The two-seat sports car’s tube-framed chassis and
inline-4 engine were both derived from a pre-war fully-functional concept car
called the Atom. While the DB1 had slightly larger proportions than this early
iteration, it still managed to tip the scales at around 1,100 kg. This 2-Litre
Sports, as the name suggested, used the 2.0 L Claude Hill engine. This 90 hp unit
could propel the small, light vehicle to 150 km/h.
Fans of the marque, regularly voted coolest brand in
the world, will recognize the iconic Aston Martin 3-part grille which has
adorned virtually every Aston Martin since in one form or another. The top
speed of 93 mph may not be anything to shout about these days, but the DB1
should be given proper reverence for the bloodline that it spawned.
